Group inches toward fundraising goal line

Leslie Bruce

An effort to raise money to pay for a larger pool at Costa Mesa High

and a stadium at Estancia got a very relevant $20,000 boost last

week.

The organizers of Irrelevant Week, a Newport Beach-based

institution that honors the last pick in the NFL draft, and Kingston

Technology Co., each donated $10,000 to the fundraising efforts of

Costa Mesa United. The nonprofit group is spearheading a campaign to

construct state-of-the-art sports facilities at both high schools.

The two organizations’ contributions, which will be recognized at

Costa Mesa United’s 2005 Mesa Verde Golf Classic next week, will go

toward the group’s $7.25-million goal.

Costa Mesa United’s objective is to construct a 50-meter swimming

pool and aquatic center at Costa Mesa High and a 2,500-seat athletic

stadium at Estancia.

“Costa Mesa is the largest city in California without a football

stadium,” said local businessman Gordon Bowley, Costa Mesa United’s

fundraising chairman.

Organization members, who have been raising funds since fall 2003,

hope to reach their goal by June 30 and begin construction in the

fall.

“The goal is $7.25 million; so far, we have $2.62 million,” said

Newport-Mesa school board member Dave Brooks, a Costa Mesa United

committee member.

Efforts continue next week with the 2005 Mesa Verde Golf Classic.

With only a few spots still available, golfers have donated $250 a

head to Costa Mesa United for a round at Mesa Verde Golf Course on

Monday.

They are not the only ones making big donations.

“Mesa Verde Golf Course completely donated the course to us,” said

John Ursini, Costa Mesa United’s publicity chairman and partial owner

of the Newport Rib Co.

Ursini, an Estancia High School graduate, was overwhelmed with

local response for the event.

“It’s been nothing but positive feedback from the community,”

Ursini said. “I’m just hoping to see this happen.”

With about $4 million left to raise by the end of June, Costa Mesa

United is looking for a donor interested in naming rights of the

stadium and/or aquatic center.

“Naming rights would be $500,000 a year for three years,” Bowley

said. “We will also have a huge donor-recognition program within the

facilities.”

As for a completion date of the facilities, Costa Mesa United

members are uncertain, but they remain optimistic.

“We hope that the schools play the 2006 football season in their

own stadium,” Ursini said.